Reuters

BENGALURU/MUM-BAI/BANGKOK/HANOI AND BANGLADESH: Thai rice export prices fell to a more than two-year low this week, weighed down by weak demand and rising supplies, while India’s rice export prices held steady near a 21-month low.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice dropped to $405 per metric ton, hitting its lowest level since late Oct. 2022 and touching the lower end of last week’s quoted range of $405 to $408 per metric ton.

Demand has been very quiet and it looks like it will be like this for the next 2-3 months, a Bangkok-trader said. “It’s very worrying, because India and Vietnamese (rice) prices are very low. Regular customers are buying as needed. There is an oversupply in the market,” said the trader.

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was

quoted at $403-$410 per metric ton, unchanged from last week. “Pakistan and Vietnam are aggressively selling white rice, which is even affecting the prices of parboiled rice,” said a Kolkata-based dealer with a global trade house. India earlier this month allowed the export of 100% broken rice, which had been banned since September 2022.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $394 per metric ton on Thursday, compared with last week’s $392 per ton, according to the Vietnam Food Association. “Activities remain tepid on soft demand,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.

Published Date: March 21, 2025